Sparta, WI to Portage, WI

July 31, 2010
90 miles

Everyone woke up early because we had a long ride ahead of us. Breakfast was at 5:30 a.m. and I rode out alone a little after 6 a.m. Since I was riding my road bike I decided to skip the Sparta/Elory unpaved trail and ride on Hwy 71 to Elroy. Turns out it was a good choice for me as there was no one on the highway that early, I had the road to myself and the pavement was relatively smooth. I had lots of opportunities to stop and check out mom and pop type of farms. I rolled through a few small towns like Norwalk, Wilton, and Kendall. Each time the road would intersect the trail it would climb up a hill and then there would be a good downhill on the other side.

A beautiful morning on Hwy 71 with no cars



Scenery along Hwy 71


Once I got to Elroy (33 miles into the trip) our directions instructed us to get onto the "400 trail" This trail was similar to the trail yesterday but I had to slow my speed down to about 10 mph because the dirt trail had water, sand mounds and bumps. On the trial I passed through more small towns like Union Center, Wonowoc, and LaValle. I got off the trail in Reedsburg which was now the 55 mile mark. Reedsburg seemed like another nice small town in Wisconsin with beautiful old buildings.

As I worked my way out of Reedsburg I came to a park where our lunch stop was. I was the only one so far who had passed through. I stayed there with Blaine for about half an hour.

The ride from Reedsburg to Portage was very nice along country roads however some of the intersections were not marked so my gps came in handy again. As I was riding down one country road a wasp nailed me with an excruciating sting.


Got to Portage around 2:30 p.m. and found the downtown to again, have nice old style buildings. Our hotel is about three miles out in a commercial area. The others showed up later in the afternoon. Ziva had fallen and injured her leg so Blaine drove her and Susan to the hotel.




Clydesdale horses young and old


Getting into Amish country


Riding on the 400 Trail


Reflection in Reedsburg waiting for the light to change

Winona, MN to Sparta, WI

July 30, 2010
57 miles

Nancy pointing out on the US map our progress


Today Tom, Ziva, Susan and I left the church in Winona and crossed the Mississippi river into Wisconsin. As we crossed the bridge it started raining lightly and was actually pleasant as the temps were cool and not humid.

We then turned southeast and headed toward the town of Trempealeau, WI. This was an easy ride as it was flat with no wind. When we got to Trempealeau we tried to look for the dikes and locks where tug boats move larger boats up and down this portion of the river. I guess it was a light day as we did not see any movement.
A new state!


Entering Trempealeau, WI near the Mississippi

In Trempealeau we got onto our first rail to trail today the "Great River Trail".
We rode this trail for approximately 22 miles until we connected to another trail "the Lacross River Trail"". Both trails were beautiful and of course, more pleasurable than riding on main roads.

House on the Mississippi built for potential flooding

Entering the Great River Trail

On the Great River Trail

Talking with Mitch on the Great River Trail

More views on the Great River Trail

With Sharon, Tom, Ziva, and Susan on the LaCross River Trail


As we rode on the second trail we met Blaine with the truck in West Salem. This was our lunch stop.

Then it was another easy 15 miles to Sparta, WI a town that claims to be the number one biking town in the US. As you enter town you see a statue of "Ben Bikin" commemorating bicycle heritage.

After getting settled and unpacked at the church I walked downtown to the local library to blog. I saw Tom walking around too. We were served pasta for dinner at the church.

Sparta is another very nice little town with great old building that are kept in good condition.





Blaine our great support driver from Rapid City to Vermont

Sparta railway statiion

"Ben Bikin" the huge statue of the bicycle in Sparta

Church in Sparta where we are staying tonight

Downtown Sparta

Sparta Courthouse

Winona, MN

July 29, 2010
0 miles-Rest day

A few days ago I thought when I reach Winona I was going to really use our "rest day" for rest. So today I was determined not to get on my bike. I wanted to relax and see a few sites in Winona but mainly take it easy. After all, tomorrow we will be back riding with no rest days until a half day crossing Lake Michigan. And our next real rest day won't be until Niagara Falls.

After breakfast I walked onto the campus of Winona State and saw some very nice buildings. I then walked to the post office and sent stuff I didn't need back home.

The next stop was taking a tour of replicas of the Nina and Pinta-Christopher Columbus' boats which were moored near downtown.

While there I could see various cool buildings like the courthouse and an investment building.

Winona was named after an american indian pricess that jumped off a cliff rather than marrying a man who was selected by her parents. This city is surrounded by water-to the west a lake and to the east-the Mississippi River. There are two universities, Winona State and St. Mary's.

Since this is an official rest day I thought it would be nice to include photos of the riders in our tour. They are below.

Replica of the Pinta on the Mississippi River-Winona

Winona County Courthouse

Another interesting building in Winona

Winona State

Winona State

Folks of Winona providing dinner at church

Stain glass Winona


The Riders:

Nancy (Tour Leader)-Vermont

Ken(Tour Leader)-Vermont

Dick-Vermont

Tom-Cailifornia

Ziva-Maryland

Susan-Maryland

Kim-Vermont

Saron-Vermont

Ed-Kentucky

Greg-Montana

Susie-Montana

Kasson, MN To Winona, MN

July 28, 2010
74 miles

It was another early morning wake up. We had the hotel breakfast at the Kasson Americaninn at 6:00 a.m.

Before everyone was finished packing I rode 2 miles over to the stone water tower in downtown Kasson. I could see it in a distance from our hotel but I wanted to get a picture in the morning.

Stone Water tower in Kasson, detour ride in the early morning



When I returned to the hotel, Ed, Dick and I rode out heading east on Hwy 14 toward Rodchester. About 6 miles in we turned off that highway and went on a semi country road to skirt Rodchester traffic. However, some of us got a little confused with the directions and made sure we were on the right road. After we saw Nancy get onto the Zumbro trail we knew we were going the right way.

Starting the Zumbro Trail near Rodchester following Nancy


Riding while taking a picture on the Zumbro Trail



We had a great lunch stop in St. Charles in a park. Then we headed out but lost Ziva and Susan so Tom, Dick and I rode to Stockton and could tell by the geography that we were getting close to the Mississippi River. The weather was good and it wasn't as humid as yesterday. After reaching the river we headed south about four miles to downtown Winona. It appears to be a beautiful city and a nice place to have a rest day.

Reaching the Mississippi River

The first view we saw of the Mississippi River

An interesting church near downtown Winona

This is the church we are staying at tonight and tomorrow night

Fairbault, MN to Kasson, MN

July 27, 2010
45 miles

It was already very humid and cloudy when we set out today from Fairbault. We had to take several roads and turns to get out of the city. Once we got onto county roads it rained very briefly.

I rode with Ziva, Dick, Tom, and Susan most of the way.

Americinn in Fairbault- Sky getting cloudly with Susan on the right


Stopping at first hill Hwy 60



After our lunch stop near West Concord I asked Ken if he knew about a coffee house as our rooms in Kasson would not be ready until three.

As we were riding in Manderville we saw a new coffee house called "County Seat Coffee" Most of the riders stopped there to have a cool coffee drink. Just down the road we stopped at a Farmer's Market and saw many booths with fresh vegetables for sale. I think Ken and some others bought some types of vegetables for one of the dinners in Winona.

We arrived in Kasson around 2 p.m. at the Americann Inn and sat in the lobby for about an hour before we could go to our rooms. In the evening Ken got take-out at a Chinese place and we ate in the hotel banquet room.


On the road taking a break

Dodge county courthouse

Downtown Mantorville the county seat near Kasson

River in Mantorville near Kasson